Chancellor Gordon Brown is one of the key figures behind current moves to reduce international debt.

The UK government's four point plan includes cutting the debt of the world's poorest countries by $50bn by the end of 2000 and boosting the aid from developed countries to poor countries to $60bn to help in social, health and education programmes to reduce poverty.

The government also wants to sell $1-2 billion of IMF gold to fund enhanced debt relief.

It will also be helping through Millennium Gift Aid which will allow charities to claim tax relief on donations of £100 to support educational and anti-poverty projects in the world's poorest countries.